Optical Vehicle Shifter Position Sensor Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle gear shift position sensors are expensive, large, and prone to durability and noise, vibration, and harshness issues, necessitating an improvement in gear shift systems.

Innovation Solution

A position sensor assembly using a light source and light sensor aligned through a passage in the shift lever assembly, where the alignment enables or blocks light emission to indicate gear positions, reducing packaging size and enhancing durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional position sensors (limit switches, microswitches, proximity sensors) are used, then gear position detection is achieved, but the sensor size increases shifter housing size and cost while reducing durability and increasing noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor durabilityVSAvoidshifter housing size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical position sensors (limit switches, microswitches) with an optical sensing system using a light source and light sensor. This substitution eliminates mechanical contact components, thereby improving durability and reducing noise while maintaining compact housing dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses optical information (light transmission state) to copy or represent the physical position of the shift lever assembly. By detecting whether light passes through the shift lever assembly, the system creates an optical copy of the gear position state without requiring physical contact sensors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If conventional position sensors are used, then gear position detection is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegear position detection accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs inexpensive optical components (light source, light sensor) instead of costly conventional position sensors. These optical components can be manufactured at lower cost while providing sufficient measurement precision for gear position detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

By replacing expensive mechanical sensors with an optical system, the patent reduces manufacturing costs while maintaining or improving measurement precision for gear position detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If conventional position sensors are used, then gear position detection is achieved, but noise and vibration issues increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal stabilityVSAvoidnoise and vibration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical sensing mechanisms that generate noise and vibration with an optical sensing system. The light source and light sensor detect gear position through optical means, eliminating mechanical contact and associated noise and vibration harmful factors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces light as an intermediary medium to transmit position information from the shift lever assembly to the sensor. This optical intermediary eliminates direct mechanical contact between sensing components and moving parts, thereby reducing noise and vibration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides a cost-effective, compact, and durable method to determine gear positions, reducing noise and vibration issues while maintaining accurate transmission settings.

Implementation Method 1

a position sensor assembly having a light source and a light sensor, the light sensor configured to selectively receive light emitted from the light source

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emission: Light

Data Source

PatentUS9970530B2Vehicle shifter position sensor assembly

Publication Date: 2018.05.15 FCA US LLC

AI summary

A transmission gear shifter arrangement includes a shift lever assembly and a position sensor assembly each associated with a shifter housing. The shift lever assembly is operably coupled to a vehicle transmission, and is selectively movable to gear select positions corresponding to respective transmission gears. The position sensor assembly includes a light source and light sensor, where the sensor is configured to selectively receive light emitted from the light source. When the shift lever assembly is in a predetermined one of the gear select positions, the shift lever assembly enables light emitted from the light source to reach the sensor thereby indicating that the shift lever assembly is in the predetermined one of the gear select positions, and when the shift lever assembly is not in the predetermined one of the gear select positions, the shift lever assembly prevents light emitted from the light source from reaching the sensor.